Collections in lockdown

These guidelines, published by the National Museum Directors’ Council (NMDC) with support from DCMS and the Museums and Galleries Working Group, are intended to help employers, employees and the self-employed, and volunteers in the museum sector in England understand how to work safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This resource, from the UKRG (UK Registrars’ Group), gives a set of guidance notes on how to deal with the couriering of objects within the travel limitations of the current Covid-19 environment.  

With museum and heritage organisations necessarily closed during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown, collections are being held dormant for a significant period, increasing the risk of general deterioration caused by the environment, pollutants and pests, as well as reduced levels of preventive monitoring and control. This checklist and guide, from ICON, outlines how to address collection conservation issues that might have occurred during this time.

On 12 May 2020 an expert panel drawn from the Museum Development Network and convened by Collections Trust came together to answer further questions from museum staff and volunteers concerned about caring for their collections during the current lockdown.

This Museum Site Visit Checklist, from Museum Development East Midlands, is a template to aid museum staff and volunteers who wish to undertake regular site visits at their museum for collections care and security purposes during the current Covid-19 outbreak.

This resource from Interpol and ICOM recommends the implementation or reinforcement of a set of security measures.

A guide, from the South West Museum Development Programme, with tips to help you keep your museum and collections safer during the COVID-19 pandemic. It contains helpful guidance and suggested checklists.

This resource from the Museums Association draws on research into over 20 recent museum closures in the UK, and looks to understand how the governing bodies, employees, and the individuals involved responded. It outlines the legal and ethical issues relating to museum closures.

Video recording and transcript of the Q&A discussion on collection care in lockdown streamed by Collections Trust on 7 April 2020, with an expert panel drawn from the Museum Development Network.

This checklist, from Museums Galleries Scotland, is designed to help you think through some of the security risks to your museum during lockdown. The list is not exhaustive and each museum will have its own particular circumstances, so not all questions will be relevant.

This template letter, from Museums Galleries Scotland, provides an example of a letter that can be given to staff should they need to physically return to the museum or museum store for essential checks.

This resource, from Ecclesiastical Insurance, offers guidance for managing temporarily closed or permanently unoccupied properties during the COVID-19 pandemic. It covers the top 5 priorities for temporarily closed properties.

Arts Council England’s advice on meeting security and environmental conditions for the Government Indemnity Scheme (GIS) during the ‘shutdown’ of relevant venues. Also useful for museums without loans covered by GIS.

Guidance from Icon for museums and other organisations trying to care for their collections during Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown period.

Advice from Historic England on what to do if there is good reason to suspect that a symptomatic person may have touched a historic item or surface, or areas or rooms are believed to be contaminated. This web page is based on the advice from Public Health England on cleaning in non-healthcare settings.

Advice from the Collections Care Team at Museum Development London on some key things to consider if your museum will be closed without any access during the lockdown.